Prayer cabinets



E. BERG PRAYER CABINETS Feb. 4, 1964 Filed Nov. l5, 1961 INVENTOR.

United States Patent O 3,120,410 PRAYER CABINETS Elaine Berg, 4319 N.Greenview Ave., Chicago, lll. Filed Nov. 15, 1961, Ser. No. 152,478 1Claim. (Cl. 312-33) The present invention relates to prayer cabinets,and is particularly concerned with the provision of an improved prayercabinet assembly adapted for universal use.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improvedprayer cabinet which is equipped with a bench for kneeling7 that ispeculiarly adapted to make it easier for anyone to kneel or rise fromthe bench by using the hands on the upwardly extending sides of thekneeling bench to aid in supporting the weight and steadying the userduring the placing of the knees on the bench.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a prayer benchassembly in which the kneeling bench is adapted to be nested in thelower part of the cabinet and in which a plurality of kneeling benchesmay be provided for persons of different size and age.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved prayercabinet construction which is simple, sturdy, which has a minimum numberof parts, and which may be manufactured at a low cost.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved prayercabinet construction which includes everything necessary for its use andhas provision for storing kneeling benches, religious books, andreligious objects.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved prayercabinet construction and kneeling bench which is comfortable and inwhich the parts are adapted to fit together when nested for convenientstorage and transportation.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from thefollowing description and the accompanying drawings, in which similarcharacters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the severalviews.

Referring to the single sheet of drawings accompanying thisspecification,

FIG. l is a view in perspective of the prayer cabinet assembly with theparts arranged in position for use, also illustrating in dotted linesthe use of the kneeling bench in achieving kneeling position with aminimum amount of effort or discomfort;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of the prayer cabinet assembly withthe component parts nested together;

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view;

FIG. 4 is an end elevational view;

FIG. 5 is a top plan view;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view showing the two types of kneelingbenches adapted to nest together;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view similar to FIG. 2 of a modification.

Referring to FIGS. 1-5, 1t) indicates in its entirety one of the prayercabinets embodying the invention shown in FIG. 1 in connection with akneeling bench 11.

The prayer cabinet 10 comprises a pair of side wall members 12, 13joined at the top by a rectangular top wall 14 and at the bottom by arectangular bottom wall 15. The side walls may also be joined by anintermediate partition or wall 16 and a second partition or wall 17spaced from the top a sufcient distance to provide a compartment forreceiving the sliding drawer 18 having suitable drawer pulls 19.

All of the parts of the cabinet may be made of suitable wood, such aslaminated plywood, which may be provided with veneer of ornamental wood;and the cabinet may also be made of solid boards of any type of highgrade lumber adapted to be provided with a suitable finish.

The second compartment from the top above the partition 16 provides aspace 2@ for supporting the Bible or other religious books, indicated at21.

The back of the cabinet may be provided with a suitable plywood covering22 secured by screws or other fastening members 23. The cabinet ispreferably provided with an upwardly extending back board 24, which mayhave a transparent facing 25 of plastic, thereby providing a space forinsertion of a card or sheet 26 bearing a suitable religious design ortext, such as the Lords Prayer.

The back board may be secured by the same securing members 23; and thecabinet is provided on its back with a plurality of U shaped stirrups 27for receiving and frictionally holding the shaft 28 of a crucifix orother religious article.

Referring to FIG. 6, this is a front elevational view showing therelative sizes and construction of a pair of kneeling benches 11 foradults and 35D for children.

Each kneeling bench may comprise a pair of side walls 31, 32 of thickplywood, rectangular in shape, and provided with inner grooves 33 forreceiving the intermediate partition 34 serving as a bench. The bench 11is provided with a suitable fabric covered pad 35 of resilient felt,foam rubber, or other suitable material covering the partition or shelf34 and adapted to support the knees with comfort.

Each side wall 31, 32 has the lower plane supporting end surface 36, 36;and each side wall 31, 32 extends upward above the pad 35 so that theside walls 31, 32 may be used by the person employing the bench tosupport the hands, as shown in FIG. l, in the act of kneeling with aminimum amount of effort or discomfort.

The side walls 31, 32 have hat upper surfaces 37 provided with pads 33which may be of the same material as the pad 35, and which extend overthe top surfaces 37 and downward on the inside and outside of the walls31, 32, forming a convenient handle which may be grasped by the fingersin lifting or placing the kneeling bench.

The pads 38 also serve to engage the inside of the cornpartment 39 ofthe cabinet, in which the kneeling bench 11 may be nested; and the othersmaller bench 30 for children is adapted to be received in the uppercompartment Ztl, as shown in FIG. 7.

41B indicates a fabric covering for the top of the cabinet, which isremovable to be cleaned.

The smaller kneeling bench 3i) may be of similar construction on asmaller scale and may be used by children when kneeling and placingtheir hands on the partition 16. In either case the handle pads 3S maybe grasped by both hands of the user to enable the arms to assist theuser in rising from the bench.

The present kneeling bench is very advantageous for use by elderlypeople who may have some difficulty in reaching a kneeling position.

FIG. 7 shows a modification in which the benches are nested, one abovethe other, in separate compartments, while in FIG. 2 the smaller bench30 is nested in the space below the larger bench 11.

The proportions of the parts may be such, as shown in FIG. 2, that thehandle pads 38 engage inside the side walls 12 and 13; and the handlepads 41 on the smaller bench engage below the wall 3d of the largerbench so that all of the parts lit together with the pads preventing anyrattling or movement of the component parts during shipment.

The modication of FIG. 7 also shows a different type of back board 42which is arcuate in shape, and which may be provided with a stainedglass or plastic facing having any suitable ornamentation appropriatefor a religious article.

It will thus be observed that I have invented a prayer cabinet assemblywhich is adapted to facilitate the use of its component parts in prayerwith maximum physical comfort, and with which the elderly, as well asthe young, may assume the proper position without likelihood of injuryto the spine.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, manymodifications may be made without departing from the spirit of theinvention, and l do not wish to be limited to the precise details ofconstruction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes withinthe scope of the appended claim.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

A prayer cabinet assembly comprising a kneeling bench having a pair ofvertical side walls each having a stable lower edge for supporting thebench on the floor or on a lower partition, the side walls being groovedbetween their ends horizontally to receive an intermediate supportingpartition secured thereto and having a thickly cushioned pad thereon,each of said side walls being capped by a rolled cushion extending fromfront to back and projecting inwardly and outwardly of said side wallsand adapted to engage the inside of a cabinet when nested Itherein, saidbench being nested in a lower recess in said cabinet and said bench alsoreceiving a second kneeler bench for children under said partition andprovided with rolled padded upper edges and a cushion, and engagingbelow said partition, said benches being of the same depth from front toback as a recess in said prayer cabinet, and said cabinet having a pairof vertical side walls and a back wall and bottom wall and top wallsecured thereto, and an intermediate partition carried by the side wallsand forming the front open recess above referred to, and housing thekneeling benches, the said cabinet also having a shelf above said recessand an upper drawer mounted slidably in said cabinet, said bench fittingin said recess having a height at its upper rolled cushions that issuitable for grip by an adult and the cushion thereon being of asuitable height for the user to lower his knees to the cushion whilegripping the rolled cushions, which also are used with the hands to risefrom the kneeler.

References Cited in the tile of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS

